Chicago Bears Top 100: #100 – Matt Suhey
We’re heading into the dog days of the offseason, counting the days until the Chicago Bears 2014 season kicks off. Thanks to contributor and the fine editor of Blackhawk Up Keith Schultz’s suggestion, we’re going to do a Top 1oo list of the all time Chicago Bears. It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down memory lane.
First up in our Top 100 Chicago Bears countdown is fullback Matt Suhey. Suhey ranks as the tenth all time leading rusher for the Chicago Bears. The Bears drafted Suhey out of Penn State in the second round of the 1980 NFL draft. Suhey took on the all-important job of blocking for Walter Payton as the Bears fullback. But there was more to Suhey’s game than blocking. Suhey could also tote the rock.
Suhey amassed 2946 yards on 828 attempts in his 10 year NFL career. He scored 20 rushing touchdown while also nabbing 5 receiving touchdowns on 260 receptions for another 2113 receiving yards.
Suhey might be best known as scoring the first touchdown of Super Bowl XX, a touchdown that many felt Walter Payton should have gotten. But there was never any tension between Suhey and Payton. In fact, they were the best of friends and Suhey ended up being the executor of Payton’s estate following his untimely death in 1999. Suhey’s stats never really popped but his blocking and Super Bowl ring make him a worthy member of the Top 100.
What do you think of the ranking? Too low? I guess you’ll have to check back to see who finished ahead of him to judge for yourself. We’ll be counting down a different person each day as we inch our way to the September 7th season opener.